Fired border guard seeks $50 million from U.S. government


By Dan Herbeck NEWS STAFF REPORTER
Updated: 07/26/07 6:52 AM



Robert S. Rhodes III claims he was unfairly prosecuted and fired from his job. A jury acquitted former border guard Robert S. Rhodes III of beating up a Chinese tourist — but the federal government did not.

Rhodes filed two lawsuits this week, asking for $50 million in damages, claiming he was unfairly prosecuted and fired as a homeland security officer after a highly publicized confrontation at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls on July 21, 2004.

A federal court jury acquitted Rhodes of criminal charges after a trial in 2005, but the Department of Homeland Security fired Rhodes.

“The jury did the right thing, and the government should do the right thing, too,â€